In the context of the current VLI course teaching us about domestic and cross-cultural evangelism, I thought the following quote I ran across was an interesting viewpoint from the other side of the issue
As I have always said, missionaries are infernal nuisances who ought to be kept at home — dull, solemn asses without scientific acumen or historical perspective …H.P. Lovecraft, September 1925
All the more reason, I suppose, that folks should be well trained and earn the right to preach the gospel by being credible in their day-to-day lives. That, or we’ll open ourselves to the accusation that Lovecraft makes, namely being “dull, solemn asses without scientific acumen or historical perspective”